Worldly people

As a kid in the Jehovah's Witness religion, I was always warned that “worldly people” were bad. My mom would say, “They don’t love Jehovah, so they don’t have the same moral standards we do,” or something along those lines. Now, I will agree that *some* people are without moral concerns.

The internet says, “The concept of people being 'without conscience' is often associated with certain psychological conditions like psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Studies suggest that only about 1-4% of the general population may exhibit traits of psychopathy or ASPD, where individuals may lack empathy, guilt, or remorse and have a diminished conscience."

So, naturally, we want to be cautious with new people, whether they’re Jehovah’s Witnesses or “worldly.” When I first left the cult, I was hesitant to make new friends.

But here’s what I found: the vast majority of people are genuinely caring and good. In 2019, I took a chance and introduced myself to my new next-door neighbor, Mike. Since then, he’s become one of my best friends. I’ve gotten to know his family, and they’re lovely people too. His sister-in-law spends nearly 40 hours a week volunteering at a food bank.

Since leaving, I’ve made an effort to be open to new friendships, and as a result, over the last six years, I’ve developed a chosen family who care about me for who I am—not for how many hours I spend promoting Watchtower.

What’s more, I’ve realized that “worldly people” can actually have higher moral standards than Jehovah’s Witnesses. I now see that some Jehovah’s Witnesses were projecting their own lack of moral fiber onto unsuspecting people. JWs have been known to steal, murder, lie, molest, rape, embezzle, abuse drugs and alcohol, and cause harm to others. And yet, like many religious types, they look down on people who don’t share their beliefs and claim the moral high ground. Essentially, they do the same things that 1-4% of the general population does, but they cover it with fake love and false humility. Worse still, their two-witness rule and failure to report child molesters to the authorities make them responsible for more than their fair share of crime.

Since becoming a “worldly person,” I’ve noticed that I’ve become a better person. I care more about honesty and contributing to my community. My friends who have left the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, like Falon, Rebecca, and (other) Mike, have all grown since leaving the cult. They’ve become more genuine, kind, and healthy. I can't recommend being a “worldly person” enough.

It's better on the outside.

– Jason, ex-JW & Atheist